There鈥檚 a lot that the Princess of Wales has missed this year. One tradition she鈥檚 not letting pass her by? Dressing to festive theme at her annual Christmas carol concert.
For the fourth incarnation of an event she started during the pandemic, Kate looked like a bow-wrapped present incarnate in a red coat by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen over a red tartan Emilia Wickstead skirt, accessorized with an on-the-nose, on-trend black bow at the neck.
As she鈥檚 done every year, Kate arrived alone to greet the guests processing into a candlelit Westminster Abbey. In the background, there was a 鈥淜indness Tree,鈥 for people to dedicate a decoration to someone who has been there for them this year.
Empathy and kindness, in fact, were the theme of聽the 2024 Together at Christmas service, which had a guest list filled with people who have demonstrated compassion to people in their communities, including a teenager who sends letters to people living with cancer, and a man with a lung condition who ran a marathon with an oxygen machine to raise money for charity.
Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Princess Catherine singing carols at Together at Christmas, December 2024.
Getty ImagesTo underscore the point, Kate posted an illustration to social media just before the service, showing a group of people with their arms around each other. The caption read, 鈥淗ow did I help?鈥 鈥淵ou were by my side, which was everything.鈥
You could read volumes into this choice of theme, given聽the year that Kate has personally had 鈥 major abdominal surgery, a cancer diagnosis, chemotherapy聽treatment, a roller-coaster ride in the public eye that鈥檚 seen her swing from Missing Person to PhotoShopper Non Grata to subject of deep sympathy.
One guest, English singer Paloma Faith, expressed as much to Kate, who replied: 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know this time last year it was going to be the year I鈥檝e just had.鈥
Prince William arriving to the 2024 carol service with George, Charlotte and Louis.
AFP via Getty ImagesThere was also plenty to read into the message Kate shared in a letter that was handed out to the 1,600 guests.
She wrote about the Christmas story, and how this tale of a saviour who came to earth in infant form 鈥渞eflects our own vulnerabilities and reminds us of the importance of giving and receiving empathy, as well as just how much we need each other in spite of our differences.鈥 It鈥檚 an interesting reference, given reports that Kate has been turning to her Christian faith for strength and hope.
She continued: 鈥淎bove all else, it encourages us to turn to love, not fear. The love that we show ourselves and the love we show others. Love that listens with empathy, love that is kind and understanding, love that is forgiving and love that brings joy and hope.鈥
Joy, it seems, was the watchword of the evening for Kate, who was all smiles as she hosted this flagship event in her calendar, perhaps the biggest project she鈥檚 taken on this year. (It will be televised in England on Christmas Eve.)
Princess Beatrice was among the 2024 Together at Christmas guests.
Getty ImagesHer three children were in the front row 鈥 George, Charlotte and Louis matching their mother in red ties and a red coat 鈥 while William, the , did a reading from the Bible as part of the service.
Pippa, Carole and James Middleton were there too, along with celebrity guests including singer Olivia Dean and Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham, and a sprinkling of extended-family royals, like Sophie a.k.a. The Duchess of Edinburgh and Princess Beatrice. The King and Queen were not in attendance.
James Middleton and Alizee Thevenet, Pippa Middleton and Carole Middleton arriving at the 2024 carol service.
POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesComplete with candles, carols and Christmas trees cut from Windsor鈥檚 Great Park, it was an event that matched Kate鈥檚 new modus operandi: sincere, emotional, and far more open than we鈥檝e seen from her before.
Case in point: A line from the letter she wrote for her guests, about the love that she hoped was celebrated throughout the evening.
鈥淟ove is the light that can shine bright,鈥 she said, 鈥渆ven in our darkest times.鈥
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